Fulham and West Bromwich Albion played out an eventful 2-2 draw at The Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon.
It was a tale of two halves as Bobby De Cordova-Reid had given Fulham a slender lead at half-time following a controlled opening 45. A spirited recovery from the hosts saw Kyle Bartley hit back in the 47th minute before Matheus Pereira completed the comeback in the 66th minute. But the Whites showed a good response and substitute Ivan Cavaleiro pulled us level late on to secure a point.
Scott Parker made three changes from the side that picked up a solid point on the road versus Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday evening. Antonee Robinson, back from suspension, was inserted straight into the starting XI to play on the left side of defence. Mario Lemina slotted into midfield and Aleksandar Mitrović led the line for Fulham.
Heavy snowfall in the lead up to kick-off had not settled and the pitch was in pristine condition as the referee got the match under way. Baltic conditions for both teams to contend with.
The intent from West Brom was clear from the outset. Long, high balls pumped into the channels, with a desire to feed off second balls. Fulham would have to be alert to any contested balls hit long.
After a scrappy opening, Fulham started to slowly turn the screw and in the 10th minute we carved open a flat-footed West Brom backline. A drilled low ball from the defence was controlled expertly by Mitro. Shielding the ball and sucking in extra defenders the powerful striker picked out the overlapping run of De Cordova-Reid and with no hesitation the Jamaica international coolly fired home in at the near post. A lovely goal.
Fulham sensed blood and in the 18th minute we came close to grabbing a second. Again it was all too easy. With the West Brom defence in disarray, Ruben Loftus-Cheek spied a superb run in behind from De Cordova-Reid. With only Johnstone to beat, Bobby fired low and his fizzing effort slammed off the base of the post and bounced clear. A gilt-edge chance for Fulham to double their lead.
In the 28th minute we were at it again. Ademola Lookman this time was played through on goal. Semi Ajayi recovered well and after fronting up the tricky winger it appeared the centre-back hauled the forward to the ground. The referee waved away the protests, though.
A controlled and composed first half from Fulham. It would surely be a sterner test from the hosts in the second 45 after a tirade from Sam Allardyce in the changing room no doubt.
Sure enough from the first kick-off in the second half it was clear it would be a completely different foe. In the 48th minute the hosts were back level. A whipped cross from the left flank was swung into the danger zone and after taking a fortunate deflection the ball fell perfectly to Bartley to glance home. A real sucker punch after a first half of dominance.
After conceding the goal we slowly started to work our way back into the match after appearing a little deflated by the Bartley strike.
In the 66th minute the turnaround for the hosts was complete. Scrappy stuff again in the build-up and simple execution in the six-yard box saw us fall behind. A low cross across the face of goal was guided into the far corner by Pereira. A truly baffling turn of events after such a comfortable first half for Fulham.
When it appeared we had lost control we struck back. Two second half substitutes combining to perfection. Harrison Reed, who had ghosted out to the right flank, curled in a delightful cross to the back post which Cavaleiro dispatched into net to set up an enthralling final 15 minutes.
Mitro saw a header saved as we pushed for a winner, but despite a frantic close neither side was able to grab a precious third goal and we were forced to share the spoils.
West Brom: Johnstone; Furlong, Ajayi, Bartley, O'Shea (Grant 24'), Gibbs; Pereira, Livermore (Phillips 83'), Gallagher, Snodgrass; Robinson (Diagne 45')
Fulham: Areola; Aina (Tete 81'), Andersen, Tosin; De Cordova-Reid (Cavaleiro 72'), Anguissa, Lemina (Reed 72'), Robinson; Loftus-Cheek, Mitrović, Lookman
